In 2023, global measles cases surged by over 20%, reaching an estimated 10.3 million cases, a troubling increase driven by declining vaccination rates. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 107,500 people, mostly children, died from the disease last year. Despite the availability of a highly effective vaccine, these deaths are considered preventable, highlighting the ongoing challenge of maintaining immunization efforts worldwide.
Measles, a highly contagious virus, can be deadly and debilitating, but it is preventable through vaccination. The two-dose measles vaccine is 97% effective in preventing the disease, with the first dose offering 93% protection. However, the global decline in vaccination rates is contributing to the resurgence of the virus. Measles has been eliminated in 82 countries over the past 50 years, but misinformation about vaccines and lack of access to immunization have caused setbacks, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The highly contagious nature of measles demands a vaccination rate of at least 95% within a community to prevent widespread outbreaks. In 2023, 83% of children worldwide received their first dose of the measles vaccine, but only 74% received the second dose. This gap in vaccine coverage has left millions of children vulnerable to infection, with more than 22 million missing out on their vaccines altogether. In the U.S., the measles vaccination rate for kindergartners dropped to 92.7% for the 2023-24 school year, contributing to a rise in cases and outbreaks.
The decline in vaccination rates has led to a sharp increase in measles outbreaks. In 2023, the number of large outbreaks jumped by 60%, affecting 57 countries. Nearly half of these outbreaks occurred in Africa, where access to healthcare and vaccines can be limited. While the number of measles-related deaths decreased by 8% from the previous year, this improvement is attributed to better healthcare and nutrition in some regions, not a decline in the virus’s severity. Measles remains especially deadly for children with weakened immune systems due to malnutrition or other illnesses.
Despite these challenges, public health experts emphasize that measles is a preventable disease and that vaccination efforts must be ramped up globally to protect vulnerable populations. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen both underscored the importance of immunization in preventing outbreaks and saving lives. They highlighted that vaccines, particularly the measles vaccine, have saved millions of lives over the past 50 years, and continued investment in vaccination programs is critical to stopping the spread of this deadly virus.
